ELEOTKIS. 
There are seventeen longitudinal series of scales between the origins of the dorsal 
and anal fins; the prseoperculum is furnished with a spine directed downwards; the 
scales on the upper surface of the head are small, extending to between the eyes. 
The height of the body is contained five times and a half in the total length, the 
length of the head three times and a half in the same. The head is broad and 
depressed, as is also the snout; the lower jaw does not project much beyond the 
upper one. The diameter of the eye is about one-seventh of the length of the 
head, and three-fifths of the width of the interorbital space ; the maxillary extends 
to below the middle of the eye. The teeth are arranged in villiform bands ; the caudal 
is short and rounded. 
Colour dark brown ; dorsal and anal punctulated with black. — Length 5% inches. 
Mozambique. 
We have named this species after Sr. Joao da Costa Soares of Mozambique. 
252. Eleotris microlepis. Elate IX. fig. 5. [612.] 
Eleotris microlepis, Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. 1856, Banda, v. p. T02 ; Giinth. Fish. iii. 
p. 132. 
Eleotriodes microlepis, Bleek. 1. c. 1858, Coram, p. 212. 
D. 6 | 57 . A. 26-27* 
Body elongate, slightly compressed ; mouth very protractile, its cleft oblique, the 
lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. The height of the body is one-eighth, and that 
of the head one-sixth of the total length. 
Several series of teeth in the upper jaw, with an outer series of larger ones; a single 
series on the sides of the lower jaw, several in front. Dorsal spines slender, flexible, 
the sixth somewhat remote from the others ; the rays of the soft dorsal are simple and 
much higher than the body. The anal rays are branched and equal in height to the 
body. Caudal subtruncated ; its length is contained five times and a half in that of the 
body. Scales minute, imbedded in the skin. 
Colour in spirits. — Uniform light yellowish, with some wavy pearly bands on the 
sides of the head ; a deep-black streak across the base of the lower two-thirds of the 
pectoral rays. 
Colour in life. — Pale greenish, with a number of very faint flesh-coloured cross bands, 
those on the front part straight, the remainder crescent-shaped, the horns pointing- 
forward ; these cease before the tail, on which are about three similar longitudinal 
bands, which are continued on the caudal fin. Snout brilliant green. One or two 
blue wavy lines on the snout and opercles ; base of pectorals blue, with a black crescent- 
shaped line. First dorsal with a green base, above which is a blue band ; the rest of 
the fin is flesh-coloured. Second dorsal ray very faint orange ; the rays, and a line 
between each pair, parallel to them, a little darker than the rest of the fin. Anal 
